Page 67 of Ravaged By Lust

Oh. Wow.

“It’s for you, Chloe.”

I shake my head. “I can’t take this, Bishop.”

“Axel told me what happened last night with your guitar. I know I can’t make up for how special that other one was to you, but this is still better than having nothing. I can’t bear to think of Chloe Stoll without a guitar by her side. I can’t even imagine that.”

“My brother told you?”

“Well, technically Maddie told him and then he told me.”

I shake my head again and refuse to reach out for it. “It’s very kind, Bishop, but I don’t want to accept any form of charity.”

“Why would you think it’s charity?” Bishop asks. “The guitar is not for free. I’m only giving it to you in return for payment.”

“What kind of payment? I don’t have money.”

“You coming to continue your practice sessions with me,” Bishop replies. He nods towards the case and I reluctantly take it from him. I place it on the ground and open it up, pretty damn curious to see inside.

It’s a Gibson, exactly the kind of guitar that I’ve always wanted. The same kind I told Bishop I’ve always wanted years ago when we were playing that questions game in my bed.

There’s a pang in my heart. He remembers.

And it’s so beautiful.

A moan of approval escapes my lips as I bend down to inspect it even more. I don’t care that I’m supposed to be refusing this gift. It really is exactly what I’ve desired but could never afford. My fingers trace along the curves of the gorgeous thing, admiring it.

“It’s the one I told you about,” I whisper.

“I’ve not forgotten a single thing about you, Chloe.”

I look up at Bishop then. He’s standing over me with the biggest smile on his face.

And a sudden realization crosses my mind.

He wants me to be happy.

“Bishop, it’s too much…”

“You can pay me back by coming back to my place to practice. You can pay me back by doing this stupid performance and becoming the famous musician I know you should be. What do you say?”

I glance behind the rockstar into Gary’s room. He’s got the door open and he’s standing there, peeking in at us. Gary encouragingly nods at me. I nod back.

“Fine,” I say to Bishop Hayes. “You’ve got me. Let’s go for another practice session.”

28

CHLOE

I can’t get over how nice it is to play this beautiful guitar. I find myself stroking it as I look up at Bishop.

“Why are you being so kind?” I ask him. “Buying me the guitar and everything?”

For the briefest of moments, it seems like he blushes. His cheeks go pink and he breaks eye contact with me. But that’s the most I get to seeing behind the curtain before he’s back to his cool self again.

We’re back at his place, just like Bishop wanted. A few hours into practicing for the upcoming meeting with Mickey Miller and his team. Somehow Bishop has lowered my antagonism towards him and has actually got me performing some of my original songs.

It feels like we’re living a memory. It’s us again, as teenagers, back in my bedroom playing around.